Today, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited Birkenhead to attend the naming ceremony of the UK’s new polar research ship, the “Royal Research Ship Sir David Attenborough” at the Cammell Laird shipyard. The ceremony of the RRS Sir David Attenborough is the highlight of a three-day celebration of UK science, engineering, and shipbuilding.
Today is William and Catherine’s first official joint engagement after the summer break. But we last saw them together when they accompanied Princess Charlotte to her first day of School. The royal couple was joined by the ship’s namesake, the legendary broadcaster and naturalist Sir David Attenborough.
Duchess was presented with beautiful flowers by children dressed as penguins.
This new polar research ship is one of the most advanced in the world. Commissioned by the Natural Environment Research Council and built by Cammell Laird will be operated by the British Antarctic Survey. The RRS Sir David Attenborough will transform ship-borne science in Antarctica and the Arctic.
The ship will provide UK polar researchers and their international collaborators with access to a state-of-the-art multi-disciplinary research platform that will enable them to investigate the role that polar oceans play in our changing world. The £200 million investment is the UK Government’s largest investment in polar science since the 1980s. Learn more about the RRS Sir David Attenborough here.
From British Antarctic Society,” Britain has been a world leader in polar exploration and research for over a century. Studying these remote regions plays a crucial role in helping us understand the changes in our planet’s oceans, marine life and climate system. The RRS James Clark Ross is nearing the end of her 25-year lifespan and the RRS Ernest Shackleton was returned to its owners GC Riebers on 30 April 2019, after 20 years of polar duties for BAS. This means there is a need for a new, modern platform for Arctic and Antarctic research. Operated by British Antarctic Survey (BAS), the ship will be available year-round to the whole UK research community, including postgraduate trainees.
The RRS Sir David Attenborough‘s design optimises her ability to support science in extreme environments. A wide range of specialist scientific facilities, instruments and laboratories will enable scientists to conduct a wide range of multi-disciplinary sciences to study the ocean, seafloor and atmosphere. Data from the deep ocean and under-ice inaccessible locations will be captured using robotic and remotely operated devices. Marine robotics and remotely operated vehicles will capture data from the deep ocean and previously inaccessible locations under the ice. The famous Boaty McBoatface will be deployed on scientific missions in the Polar Regions.
The ship will be able to deploy, operate and control a range of remotely piloted science instruments at the same time. This means scientists can gather detailed simultaneous measurements from both airborne and marine remotely operated vehicles and autonomous platforms. She is the first British polar research ship to feature a moon pool – a vertical shaft (~4 x 4 m) running through the vessel and open to both the air (at deck level) and sea (at the hull). Using the moon pool, scientific equipment can be deployed and recovered through the centre, and thus most stable part, of the hull. This is both easier and safer than deploying equipment over the side or stern, particularly in the rough seas characteristic of the polar oceans.“
Sir David Attenborough, a natural historian, is known for the nine natural history documentary series forming the Life collection that together constitutes a comprehensive survey of animal and plant life on Earth. William interviewed Sir David at the World Economic Forum in January earlier this year and also attended the premiere of his Netflix series – Our Planet. Sir David also took part in the documentary with the Queen, The Queen’s Green Planet, just last year.
William and Catherine met with the members of the public gathered there to watch the naming ceremony.
A well-wisher was seen holding a beautiful picture of the royal couple from their engagement announcement in November 2010.
Learning about the ship’s navigation systems and ice-breaking capabilities on the bridge.
The ship’s specially strengthened hull will be able to break through ice up to 1m thick. pic.twitter.com/Q6rZaDsM0J
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) September 26, 2019
William and Catherine learned about the RRS Sir David Attenborough. It was Duchess’ second ship naming ceremony. Her first one was in 2013 when she names Royal Princess in Margate.
🚢 Today, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are in Birkenhead to tour the UK’s new polar research the RRS Sir David Attenborough.
🎥 TRH learn about the role of the robotic underwater vehicle famously named Boaty McBoatface. pic.twitter.com/fhpAvlo1RU
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) September 26, 2019
Catherine pressed a yellow coloured button that smashed a bottle of champagne against the hull of the ship to officially Christine the ship after Sir David Attenborough. The name of the ship was chosen by public voting. In an online poll, 124,000 people had cheekily suggested that the boat be called “Boaty McBoatface” before ministers stepped in to end the joke. given instead to the long-range robotic yellow submarines that will in future operate from the Attenborough.
Before pressing the button, Catherine said, “It gives me great pleasure to name this ship Sir David Attenborough, and may God bless her and all those who sail in her.”
An historic moment at @CammellLaird as the Duchess of Cambridge names the UK’s new polar research ship. pic.twitter.com/LJmeLHcTpO
— BBC Radio Merseyside (@bbcmerseyside) September 26, 2019
About Sir David, William once said, “I used to love, and I still do, but when I was a young boy, used to love turning on the television and watching David’s programs and really feeling like I was back out in Africa or I was learning about something magical and almost out of this planet“. Speaking at today’s event William said, “There has never been a more important moment for this ship to get to work and there is no person more fitting for this beacon of scientific research to be named after than you, David“.
With Sir David Attenborough & children from @BAS_News‘s Polar Explorer programme, The Duke & Duchess learnt more about the science behind the research.
🎥 The Duke holds a 650 year-old ice sample containing air bubbles which hold vital information about historic CO2 levels. pic.twitter.com/hAo4Ff4qc2
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) September 26, 2019
The Duke and Duchess met engineers involved in building the boat, and children who are part of the British Antarctic Survey’s (BAS) Polar Explorer program that encourages schools to enrich science, technology, engineering and math education by teaching children about polar science. Learn more about the program here.
William and Catherine accompanied by Sir David Attenborough had a tour of the new polar ship BAS scientist Robert Mulvaney shows the group and local schoolchildren ice from Antarctica. They learn about the role of the robotic underwater vehicle famously named Boaty McBoatface.
Catherine talking to school children.
A video of the day.
Duchess of Cambridge is wearing her Alexander McQueen Utility Coat. Catherine debuted the coat in 2014 at Blenheim and Omaka Aviation Center during New Zealand Tour. The bespoke coat has double-leaf crepe coat, with utility pockets, waist belt and pleated back skirt. Duchess again wore the coat at the D-Day Commemoration in 2014 and 75th Anniversary of Air Cadets in 2016.
A look back at Duchess wearing Alexander McQueen Utility Coat. The collage was made by lovely Katie on Twitter.
Catherine paired the look with her Emmy London Josie Block Heel Pointed Shoe that she debuted in May 2019 at the launch of King’s Cup.
Susan from What Kate Wore noted Asprey 1781 Pochette handbag. The £1850 bag is crafted from bull skin leather and features Signature Asprey 1781 clasp in pale gold hardware. It has an optional adjustable shoulder strap and lambskin interior that includes zip coin pockets.
Catherine’s Mappin & Webb Empress Earrings, that she debuted in 2015 at the Christening of Princess Charlotte, finished her today’s look.
It looks like William and Catherine are doing a lot of stuff behind the door. Isa on Twitter noted that The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Joint Patrons, the Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, held a Reception at Kensington Palace on September 25.
It was an interesting day. Today, the Duke and Duchess of York announced the engagement of their elder daughter Princess Beatrice of York to Mr Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi. The couple we get married in 2020. I believe we will be seeing the debut of Prince Louis as Page Boy very soon.
Princess Beatrice and Mr Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi said; “We are extremely happy to be able to share the news of our recent engagement. We are both so excited to be embarking on this life adventure together and can’t wait to be married.”
Edoardo worked closely with jeweller Shaun Leane to design Beatrice’s engagement ring. The main diamond is 2.5 karats. The baguette diamonds on the side are .75 karats. They are from Botswana and ethically sourced. “I am so honoured Edoardo chose to work with me to design the engagement ring,” said the jeweller Shaun Leane.
PS: Post is in progress will be updated soon.
